Machine for forming oil-cakes



R. A. TRACE.

MACHINE FOR FORMING OIL CAKES. APPLICATION FILED AUG-9,1919.

1,399,169, Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

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MACHINE FOR FORMING OIL CAKES.

APPLICATION.FILED AUG-9,1919. 1,399,169, Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

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MACHINE FOR FORMING OIL CAKES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-9,1919.

1,399,169, Patented Dec. 6, T1921.

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67 i3 y .68 ,66 73 ..63 12 jf 65 64 Z 76 I g I Z4 V I x4 69 58 57 Jnyerdm- Rcgs seZ/fiTrwq TVUNITED STATES RUSSELL TRACE, F DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO, BUCKEYE IRON AND worms, or DAYTON, omo,

PATENT OFFICE. I

BRASS A conrona'rxon or OHIO.

MACHINE r03 romance. onpcaxns.

1,399,169. Specification of 7 Be it known that I, RUSSELL A. TRACE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Day- I ton, in the county of Montgomery, and State I of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Forming Oil-Cakes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to machines for forming oil cakes, and has for its particular object to provide an improved construction of an oil cake forming machine of the general type disclosed in my Patent No. 1,302,-

246, of April 29, 1919.

The principle of construction and operation of machines of this character consists in an arrangement of the cake forming mechr to high anism whereby the hydraulic pressure for operating the machine maybe supplied by a comparatively small amount of pressure liquid which is introduced into the pressure cylinders in successive steps, starting with relatively low pressure in the first steps of cake formation and automatically increasing pressure for the completion of the operation. In the present construction,' as in the earlier invention referred to, the liquid which is used to operate the machine is sup plied under pressure from a pump of.any suitable type. To equalize the work ofthe-- pump the system includes an accumulator ofsome well known type into which the liquid is pumped, automatically maintaining the pressure in the accumulator at the state required to operate the cake forming mechanism. Under such a system the advantages of operating with the minimum of pressure liquid are obviouslyapparent.

To provide an improved pressure cylinder and rain which may be operated with a small amount of liquid is one of the objects of the present invention. This object is realized byconstructing the cylinder and ram and their cooperating mechanism so that during the greater part. of'the forming operation upper only a comparatively small area- 0f the ram is exposed to the action of the pressureliquid;

During this part of the operation the mold v Patented Dec; 6, 1921. 1919. Serial No. 316,368.

Letters Patent.

box which has been charged with the required amount of raw material to form the oil cake is brought up well toward the limit of its movement, the only resistance to this part of the forming operation being the weight of the raw material and the operable parts of the machine and the comparatively slight resistance of thematerial in the first stages of compression thereof. When the mold box in its upward movement reaches the position where the final forming operation begins the mechanism isautomatically adjusted to cause the liquid to exert a much greater pressure on the ram to complete the operation. During the final step of forma tion the movement is ,compara ively slight and only a small amount of iquid is required.

To provide for the return or idle stroke of the ram, a reverse valve is provided'which may be manually or automatically operated to, permit the liquid under pressure of the weight of the descending ram and forming box to flow from the lower portion of the cylinder into thesupply tank from which the liquid is pumped intothe accumulator.

tion and theamount required for continuous operation is kept at the minimum.

Inthe accompanying drawings:

igure 1 is a side elevation of an oil cakev forming machine embodying my invention Thus the liquid is kept in sequence of opera- .As here shown, the forming machineas a whole consists of the main base 1 in whichare secured in any suitable manner columns 2-2 ported on a horizontal frame5 which isseand 3 which serve to support the forming head 4:, the head being sup-v cured to the columns in any suitable manner,

preferably as here shown;

As shown in Fig. 2, the base 1 is provided at the central portion thereof with an aperture through which the lower I rtion of the pressure cylinder 6 extends. e cylinder is supported uponand may be secured to the base in any suitable manner. The upper portion of the cylinder preferably consists of a detachable extension 7 which serves as a guideto the ram 8 in its'up and down movement in the cylinder. Secured to the ram by means of the cross head or platen 9,

is the cake forming box 10 which consists of the usual construction and substantially as 'shownin Figs. 1 and 2 of. the drawings.

As shown" in the cross section portion of Fi 2, the ram 8 has between its massive wa s a hollow cylindricalpo'rtion 11 extending longitudinally therein, and has se cured to the lower open end thereof a retaining plate 12 and asket'13which constitute a suitable stu ng box between'the. cyllnder 11' and the piston rod 14.- The piston rod has secured thereto, preferably integrally, a piston head 15, and, detachably,

- periphe an annular fi ge plate 16 which is in effect an extension 0 the piston head 15 and serves the further purpose of securing to the piston head a suitable piston ring or gasket 17 which acts to form a close fit between the of the iston head and thewalls of the cy inder. he piston rod has an aperture 18 extending longitudinally therein, the rod being open to the aperture at itsupper end and closed at its lower end. Adjacent its lower end the piston' rod is provided with a wide annular'channel 19 formed in the periphery thereof, and with oppositely di rected assages 20 leading from the annular channe 19 into the lon 'tudina'l aperture 18. The controlling mec anism for the form: mg mechanism above described consistsof an arrangement of automatically controlled valves which are best shown irfFigs. 1 and a valve stem 30 which is supported therein by suitable bearings or stufling boxes 31 and 32.

. supported in the housing 26. Intermediate its.

. v aro center and lower end the valve stem 30 is provided with a wide annular channel 33' communicating with the passages 28 and 29,

he up er end of thevalve stem 30 has secured ereto,' preferably as shown by means of the lock nut 34 a collar 35,-which spring 69, inlet port 7 tively, in the operation of the valve.

is connected to the bifurcated end of an arm 36 secured to a pivoted bell crank 37- 38 j supported in any suitable manner on the extension cylinder 7 and having its arms 37 and'38 alternately movable into the path of a roller 40 secured to the lower end of a suspension bracket 39 carried b the cross head.

9, the purpose of which Wlll be explained withtheoperation of the machine.

i The valve 25' has a second valve stem 41, operable in a cylindrical aperture 42 therein. The upper end of the valve stem is supported in a stuffing box bearing 43 and its lower end has secured thereto a valve head 44 coopcrating with the discharge end of the passage 28. A passage 45' leads from the aper ture 42 into a pipe 46 which is connected by means of asuitable coupling47 with a pipe 48 comnfunicating with the annular channel 19 of the piston rod 14. p

The passage 29 of the valve 25 communicates with a pipe 49 which in turn, through a suitable coupling 50, pipe 51 and passage 52, communicates with the-lower portion of the'cylinder 6.

The mechanism above described consti tutes the intake valves and oil passages whereby the.pressure oil is introduced to the;

cylinders 6 and 11 for'ope'rating the ram 8..

and forming box 10 in the upward movement thereof, the detailed operation of which will presently be described. The inverse or idle operation of the mechanism is con trolled through a valve 53 in which a valve stem 54, as best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, is operably supported by a stufiing box bearing 55 and a spring actuated valve head 56, the latter being s'upported upon a threaded plug 57 secured in the lower portion of the valve housing and having a ide stem and limit stop58 which serves the ouble purpose of supporting the compression spring 59 laterally and as a limit stop for the valve stem 54 in the downward movement thereof. The valve is further provided with an inlet port 60, pressure chamber 61, and outlet,

port 62. I I a The intake valve 23 is located above, sub- ;stantiallyin the same vertical plane with the valve 53,. and-is of similar construction, consisting of the 'valve housing 63, valve stem 64, stuffing box 65, valve head 66, sup*' porting plug 67, guide pin 68, compression 0 71, and outlet port. 72. The valve stem 64 is further provided with a wide annular groove 73 formed in the periphery thereof which communicates respectively with theinlet and outlet ports in theoperation of the valve.

The valves 23 and 53' are controlled, as here shown. by a manually operated lever pressure chamber 7 4, which may be pivoted to the frame of the machine in any suitable manner. The lever 74 has contact arms 75 and 76 adapted respectively to actuate the valve stems 54- and .64. For automatic operation, the valve lever may be associated with the operable partsof the cake forming mechanism in such a manner that the operation of the valves 23 pipe 22 and port into valve' 23 by ,operating the lever 74 to raise the valve stem 64 of va v e 23, thereby raising valve head 66 and admitting the liquid to enter the pressure chamber 71, from whence it flows through the outlet port 72 into and through pipe 24 into valve 25, the liquid entering'the valve through an inlet port 25*. At this step of the operation the valve mechanism is in the relative positions shown in Fig. 1 of, the drawings, the liquid entering the vvalve immediately adjacent the annular channel 33; thence it moves upwardly under pressure through the passage 28, lifts the valve head 44 and flows through pipes 46 and 48 into the annular channel 19 formed in the periphery of the piston rod 14, and through the ports 20 and longitudinal passage 18 into the pressure chamber 11, which is normally filled with the liquidv at gravity pressure.

At this stage of the operation thecake formin mechanism .is in the relative positions 0% the parts shown in Fig. 2. It will be understood that the pressure of the liquid against the head of the ram 8 is suificient toforce the ram, together with the forming box 10, upwardly until the roller 40 engages the arm 38 of the bell crank,-which controls valve 25, and, bythe resulting upward movement of arm 36, raises the valve stem 30 until the upper portion of the annular channel 33 registers with the opening to the passage 29. During this part of the operation the ram 8 and forming box lOhave an upward movement of substantially 8", the piston shaft 14 remaining at rest.

The fluid then flows under pressure through pipes 49 and 51 and the passage 52 into the lower portion 6 of the cylinder 6. The pressure of the liquid upon the piston head 15,-or rather the late 16 thereof, causes the piston to move'wit the ram the relatively short dis-- tance required, substantially *2, to complete the operation, the pressure of the ram,being increased during this latter step relatively in the ratio of substantially 7 to 1, being the '82 and 83 to prevent the liquid under piston plate16. This results in valve head 44gin the valve 25 by sure ,ofthe liquid and causes all the direct pressure of the liquid to be exerted upon the piston plate 16.

closing the ylinder 11 is much greater than upon the back-pres-- During the first step of the forming operation', the oil meal in the forming box 10, from which the cake is formed, is brought immediately adja'cent,'or slightly int-o compression, with the stationary forming head 4, and during the latter step the meal is compressed to the extent-required to form the cake. '6. q To prevent a vacuum or air pressure formation Within the cylinder 6, an air duct 77- is provided through the cylinder wall, and to remove any liquid which might accumulate in the lower portion of the cylinder aperture in which the piston shaft 14 operates, a. drain port 21 is provided. It will be observed, however, that this aperture never directly receives any of the liquid, and accumulation of liquid therein can result only from seepage around the valve shaft.

To accomplish the idle stroke of the forming mechanism the valve lever 74 is operated in the inverse direction, thereby permitting j the valve head66 of valve 23, under pressure of the spring 69 to close the inlet port 70, thus shutting off the supply of pressure liquid to the cylinder 6. The same movement of the lever serves to actuate the valve stem 54 of the valve 53, thereby lifting the valve 6 head 56 and permitting the-liquid to flow by back pressure through pipes 51, 78, 7 9 and 80 and the inlet port 60 into the valve chamber 61 and thence through the outlet port 62 and suitably arranged piping into the supply tank from which the liquid is pumped into the accumulator.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a check valve 81 may be provided to prevent the liquid under pressure flowing in a direction away from the cylinder and'check valves pressure flowing in a direction toward "the cylinders. These valves may be of any suitable construction, and may be located as required to provide for proper movement of the liquid 1 Having thus fully described my inven' tion, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

- ratio of pressure surface acted upon by "the,

' contact with the piston 15.

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination, rality of separate force ferent capacity adapted to cooperate separately and jointly in the operation of said 'ram, meansto conduct liquid to said'chambers and to cooperate therewith for the pure with a ram, a pluchambers of difpose set.forth, an inlet valve operable to admit liquid under pressure to one of said chambers whereby the ram will be operated with an initial force, and a valve opersaid valve being further operable to cause able to admit liquid to another ofsaid chambers whereby the pressure in said chambers will act jointly in the first cham.

her to further operate the ram with increased force.

'2. In a machine of the character de-' scribed, the combination, with aram, a plu rality of force chambers of different capacities cooperating in the operation of said a valve operable to admit liquid to another of said chambers, whereby the pressure in the first chamber will'be intensified and the ram will be further operated with increased force; I 3. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with a rain, a .plu-

'rality of separate force elements of different capacities cooperating in the 0 er- .ation of said ram, means to con uct liquid to said. chambers and to cooperate therewith for the purpose set forth, an inlet valve operable to cause liquid under pressure to cooperate with one of said elements to operate the ram with an initial force,

I the liquid to cooperate with another of said 4O Y said chambers and t elements, whereby the force of the first ele- "ment will be intensified to further actuate the ram.

scribed, the combination, with aram, a plurality of separate force elements of different capacities cooperating in the operation of said ram; means to conduct liquid to cooperate therewith for the pur ose set forth,- an 'inlet valve operable to cause 1i ui'd under pressure .to cooperate with one 0 said elements to operate the ram with arfinitial force, said valve being further operable to cause the liquid to cooperate with another of said elements, whereby the liquid will act upon said elements jointly tog'intensify the force of the first element to further actuate. the ram.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with .a ram, aplurality of separate force chambers of differerit capacities adapted to cooperate :separately and iointly in the operation of said ram, means to conduct liquid to said chambersand to cooperate therewith for the-purpose set forth, an inlet valve operable 1 to admit liquid under pressure to one of said chambers, whereby the ram will be "operated with an initial force, and means to further operate said valve whereby the liquid will be admitted to another of said chambers and willact upon the liquid in' the firstnamed chamber to further'opera'te. the ram with increased force. I I

6. 'In .a machine; of the character de- 4 to further operate the ram withforc'e increased in said ratio. r

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with a ram, a plurality of separate force elements having areas of predetermined ratio, means operable to. cause liquid under pressure to cooperate with one of said elementsto actuate the ram with an initial force said means being further operable automatically to.

cause the liquid to cooperate with said. ele-.

merits-jointly to further actuate the ram, whereby the force-exerted thereon by the inst-named. element will be. increased in said ratio. I

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with a ram, a plurality of force chambers ad ted -to cooperate in the operation of said ram an inlet valve operable to admit liquid under pressure to-one of said chambers whereby the rain will be actuated withan'initial I force, a piston cooperating with'said cham- 4. In a machine of the character de-- scribed, the combination, with a ram, a p1u-.

rality offorcechambers adapted ,to cooperate in the operationofsaid ram, an inlet valve operable to admit liquid under pressure to one of said chambers whereby the ram will be actuated with an initial force, a piston cooperating with said 'chamhers and normally at rest during said initial operation, and means to further operate said valve whereby the liquid will be admitted to. another chamber andthe piston will be actuated thereby to cause operation of the ram with increased force. I

10. In a' machine of the character de scribed, the combination, with a ram, a

plurality of force chambers adapted to cooperate in theoperation of said ram, an

inlet valve operable to admit liquidunder pressure to one of said chambers whereby the ram will be actuated with an initial force, a piston cooperating with said chamv bers'having means to conduct said liquid therethrough into said chamber; and-means to further operate said valve whereby the liquid will be admitted to another chamber 1 and the piston will be actuated thereby to cause operation of the ram with increased 'force. l

11. In a machine of the. characterdescribed, the combination, with a ram, a plurality otforce chambers adapted to co-' operate in the operation of said ram, an

inlet valve operable to admit liquid under pressure to oneof said chambers whereby the ram will be actuated with an initial force, a piston operable in said chambers,

, plurality of force chambers adapted to cooperate in the operation of ,said ram, an inlet valve operable to admit liquid under pressure toone of said, chambers whereby the ram will be actuated with an initial. force, a piston operable in bne ofsaid chambers and having an apertured piston shaft whereby the liquid .is conducted into the other of said chambers, and means to further operate said valve whereby-the liquid will be admitted to another chamber and the piston will be actuated thereby to cause operation of the ram with increased force.

13. ,In a machine of the character described, the combination, with a ram, a

plurality of force chambers adapted to cooperate in the operation of said ram, an inlet valve operable to admit liquid under pressure to one of said chambers whereby the ram will be actuated. with an initial force, a piston operable in one of said chambers having annular and longitudinal pas- 'sages therein whereby the liquid from said valve is conducted to the other of said chambers, and means to further operate said valve whereby the liquid will actuate the piston and cause the ram to operate with 4 increased force. I

14. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with a ram, a plurality of force chambers adapted to cooperate in the operation of said ram, an

inlet valve operable to admit liquid under I sure to one of said chambers whereby the pressure to one of said chambers whereby the ram will be. actuated with an initial force, a piston operable in one of said chambers,and a hollow piston shaft having one of its ends ex'tendinginto the other chamher and its opposite end coiiperating with passages leading from said valve whereby the liquid is conducted .to said last-named chamber and means to further operate said valve whereby the liquid will actuate the piston and cause the ram to operate with increased force.

a hollow piston shaft having one of its ends extending'into the other chamber and its opposite end. coiiperating with passages leading from said valve whereby the liquid is conducted to said last-named chamber and excluded from the other chamber, and means to further operate said valve whereby the liquid will actuate the "piston and cause the same to operate with increased force.

16. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with a ram, a plurality of force chambers adapted to 0061)- erate in the operation of said ram, one of said chambers being normally 'filled' with liquid, an inlet valve operable to admit liquid under pressure to said chamberwhereby the) ram will be actuated with an initial force, a piston cotiperating with said chambers, and means to further operate said-valve whereby the liquid will actuate the piston and cause the same t force.

17. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with a ram, a plurality of force chambers coiiperatin in the operation of said ram, means to con uctliquid to said chambers and to cotiperate therewith for the. purpose set forth, an inlet valve operable to admit liquid under pressure to one of said chambers through liquid passa es leading thereto from said valve, whereby the ram will be actuated by an initial force, means to-further actuate the valve whereby said passages will be automatically 0 operate with increased closed and the. liquid will be conducted 7 through otherv passages to the other. of said- 0 chambers and the ram will be actuated with increased force.

18. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with a ram, aplurality of force chambers coiiperating in the operation. of said ram, means to conduct liquid to said chambers and to coiiperate therewith for the purpose set forth, an inlet valve operable to admit liquid under.presram will be actuated in an initial movement,

' means operable by the ram in said movement to actuate said valve to admit theliquid into the other chamber and a check valve whereby scribed, the combination with a ram, a plu-;

rality of force chambers coiiperating, in the operation of said ram, means to conduct liquid to said chambers and to cooperate therewith for the pu ose set forth, an inlet valve' manually opera 1e to admit liquid under pressure to one of said chambers whereby the rain will be actuated by an initial movement, a second valve, a pivoted lever automaticallyoperated by the ram in said move-' ment to actuate said valve to admit the liquidzinto the other chamber whereby the ram will-be further actuated, said lever being actuated on the return stroke of the ram to restore the valve 'to normal relation and an outer valvemanually operable at the end of the ram movement whereby the liquid may be discharged from said chambers.

20. In a machine of 'the character described, the combination, with a ram, a plurality of force chambers of different capacitles cooperatin 1n the operation of said ram,

'means to con uctliquld to said chambers and to cooperate therewith for the purpose set, forth, an inlet valve operable manually Y to admit liquid under pressure to one of said chambers whereby the ram will be operated a chambers.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. f RUSSELL A. TRACE. 

